Glowing Up with God

What does the phrase “glow up” mean? Well according to Wiktionary it is: A major and impressive transformation in appearance, talent, power, etc. Then according to the Collins English Dictionary it is a: phrasal verb. If you say that someone glows up, you mean that they become more mature, confident, and attractive. [US, informal]

    A lot of you who are reading this know some of my story, if not all of it. You know I've come a long way from where I used to be. It's been a journey physically, mentally, emotionally, but most of all spiritually. I've been saved almost my entire life and yet I started to wrestle with a works-based faith. This doctrine I held locked me under critical restrictions that led to condemnation. It was one that said I had to be perfect. I could make no mistakes, at least no major ones. If I wasn't perfect then surely God wouldn't love me, want me or care about me.

    This mindset didn't really become evident to me until I began to go through the process of separation and divorce from my ex-husband. It could have very well commenced before the marriage began to entirely go south. I felt despite the fact that my marriage had some underlying mental and emotional abuse, I was still somehow to blame because my ex chose to mistreat and abandon me. I beat myself up. I went over everything in my mind. I ended up condemning myself.

    What I failed to realize was that once I repented for whatever parts I did play for the marriage to end, God had ALREADY forgiven me. I could be free to live. Though my life was now in a different place, my mind continued to remain captive. I had to decide that I wanted the transformation and it had to start with my mind. The phenomenal part about any transformation is that although it is uncomfortable, the results are still so surprising. When my divorce was final and I let myself go from the prison of my mind, I sensed this heavy weight lift off me. It was brighter outside. I heard the birds chirp again. I could see the sunrise. Most undoubtedly, it was like I could see the Son of God again.
    Funny thing about freedom, it changes you from the inside first. As I release everything to the Lord, I now yearn to do things that were a stark contrast to how I lived before. Now, I want to get up in the morning. I want to get dressed. I want to get my hair done. I want to get my nails done. I want to wear make-up. I want to take “selfies”. I want to connect with those I care about. I have started looking at myself through a different lens. I am smiling more. I am feeling alive again. Even as I type this, I start to choke up because I know where I came from. I know that I am in such a better place. I want to be better and not bitter. I embrace forgiveness for my past and for myself. In a similar manner, I use this ability to forgive those who have hurt me. I know that God loves me. Even when I didn’t think He was there He never left me. Clearly, I see that those things were my cocoon like a butterfly. Although I am not done transforming, a lot of what has happened has caused me to appreciate the little things quite a bit more. I desire to love everyone with a Godly love. I strive to have joy. I long to grow old being the sweet lady that feeds everybody and everyone comes to sit on my porch. My heart is so full of the love that comes from the Lord that now I need to share it.
    As I glow up with God, I see the light shining in me. I am protective of that light now. I seek God with my heart like the Psalmist did in the 18 chapter and the 28th verse, You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light (NIV) I want to be what John 8:12 says I can be: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (NIV) I want to be the kind of woman whose life exhibits Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. (KVJ) Everyday I wake up and say, Lord help me to exemplify, Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV) Finally I want to experience Jeremiah 31:3 in my life daily that says, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (NIV) For me that is the kind of glow that emanates from the inside. That is the ultimate glow up. It is better than any makeover reality show. It’s better than a house renovation episode. This is the kind of glow that is permanent. So I thank God that everyday I am glowing up with Him. He is changing me, loving me and teaching me to love others in kind.
If you haven't already, I extend an invitation to let God inside to help you glow up within. I beg you to start sitting in His Presence because that is where the glow starts. The more time you spend with the Lord the more you become like Him. Today, if you don’t know the Lord, receive Him. He longs to shine His light into your heart. No heart is too dark and no situation is too bleak that God’s love and light can’t heal or touch.
https://lp.billygraham.org/find-peace-with-god/ Online References: Wikitonary and Collins English Dictionary Scriptures: Psalms 18:28 NIV, St. John 8:12 (NIV), Matthew 5:14 (KJV), Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
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